"As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God"

[moogdroog]

When I saw the title of this article, I thought it was going to focus around to be some strange criticism of Africa being 'primitive', and thus more susceptible to Christianity, but I was pleasantly surprised when I found I was completely wrong. A delight to read an article by a) a journalist and b) an atheist that recognises Christianity and Christian outreaches in deprived areas can actually do good.

[splashen]

Wow!!! What a fascinating article. Especially in light of all the recent publications by avowed atheists concerning religion.

[deadwhitemale]

I applaud good deeds done by anyone, whatever they believe or disbelieve in. But to me, the first and most important question to ask about any religious belief or doctrine is, "Is it true?" not "Is it pragmatically helpful or useful to someone?" I don't want to believe something that's not true, no matter how useful or inspiring or comforting some people may find it. If Christianity is just not true, if there's no God, if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, if there's no Heaven or hell or any afterlife at all, I want to know it, so I can get on with whatever else there is (or isn't). "Let the truth be known, though the heavens fall." For that matter, if Christianity is kind of, sort of true, but salvation is very far from free, and almost no one is really going to be saved, and practically everyone is going to hell, I want to know that too.

DWM

[archenland_knight]

[Bluegoat]

[splashen]

I do see your point, deadwhitemale, however, the reason I applaud this atheist's article on Christianity in Africa, is because in recent years, we have seen a whole slew of atheist publications, bent on seeing Christianity--& religion as a whole--being totally eradicated from the world.

So, it is kind of refreshing to see at least one atheist acknowledge the good that Christianity has done for humanity.